Starting college or university can be exciting, but it can also bring a completely new set of demands. Suddenly, you may be expected to organise your own timetable, meet deadlines, manage money, keep on top of studying, maintain friendships and cope with living more independently.
For some students, this is the first time that previously manageable difficulties become much more noticeable.
At ADHD Direct, we want more people to know that free screening for ADHD and autism is available. Screening can be a useful first step if you have found yourself wondering whether some of the difficulties you experience could be related to neurodivergence.
We will also be at the Glasgow Freshers’ Fayre on 12 September 2026, where we will be helping students access screening for both ADHD and autism and providing information about what their results may mean.
Why can university bring ADHD or autistic traits to the surface?
Many people reach adulthood without ever considering that they might have ADHD or be autistic.
School and home can provide a significant amount of structure. Parents may remind you about appointments, teachers provide deadlines, your day has a predictable timetable, and many practical aspects of life are organised around you.
University can suddenly remove much of that structure.
Our student information leaflet highlights some of the areas in which ADHD can cause difficulties, including attention and concentration, starting and completing tasks, organisation, remembering deadlines and appointments, time management, procrastination, impulsivity, restlessness, sleep and emotional regulation.
Autistic students may experience different challenges, including social communication, understanding unwritten social expectations, coping with unexpected change, sensory processing, managing busy or noisy environments, flexibility of thinking and recognising or regulating emotions.
Some people have both ADHD and autism, and the features can interact. A student might, for example, need routine but simultaneously struggle to maintain one, or seek stimulation while also becoming overwhelmed by sensory input.
What might this look like at university?
You might find that you:
- repeatedly put off starting assignments, even when they are important
- miss deadlines or appointments despite intending to remember them
- struggle to organise several modules or tasks at once
- find lectures difficult to concentrate through
- become overwhelmed by reading large amounts of information
- lose track of time
- find shared accommodation or social situations exhausting
- become particularly distressed by changes in plans or routine
- struggle with noisy lecture theatres, libraries or busy social environments
- experience strong emotional reactions and find it difficult to recover afterwards.
None of these experiences on their own mean that somebody has ADHD or autism. However, if there is a longstanding pattern of difficulties affecting study, work, relationships or everyday life, screening can help you decide whether it may be worth exploring things further.
What does free screening involve?
The screening tools we use are short, recognised questionnaires designed to identify whether someone has features that may warrant further assessment.
For adult ADHD, our screening material uses the Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS-v1.1 Part A). It asks six questions about difficulties such as organisation, remembering obligations, delaying demanding tasks, restlessness and feeling overly active. If four or more responses fall within the relevant threshold, the symptom profile is considered highly consistent with adult ADHD and further assessment may be appropriate.
For autism, the screening material includes the AQ-10 Autism Spectrum Quotient, a ten-question screening tool looking at areas such as attention to detail, switching attention, understanding social communication and interpreting other people’s intentions. A score above the screening threshold can indicate that specialist autism assessment should be considered.
Importantly, a screening questionnaire does not diagnose ADHD or autism. It is simply a screening tool that can indicate whether a fuller specialist assessment might be worthwhile.
There is still a significant lack of awareness about how ADHD and autism can present in adults.
Why are we offering screening at Freshers’ Fayre?
Many people assume ADHD always means being visibly hyperactive, when difficulties with attention, executive functioning, procrastination, time management and emotional regulation can be equally significant.
Likewise, some autistic people become extremely skilled at adapting or masking their difficulties. From the outside they may appear to be coping well, while privately using enormous amounts of energy to manage social, sensory and academic demands.
University is therefore an important time to increase awareness.
Identifying why you find certain things difficult can change how you approach studying. It may help you recognise your strengths, understand the areas in which you need additional strategies or support, and decide whether you want to pursue a formal assessment.
Come and see us in Glasgow
ADHD Direct will be at the Glasgow Freshers’ Fayre on 12 September 2026.
If you have ever wondered whether you might have ADHD, autism, or both, come and speak to us.
You will be able to access free ADHD and autism screening, ask questions and find out more about what the results mean and what your options are if further assessment is recommended.
You do not have to be certain that you have ADHD or autism before screening. In fact, that is exactly what screening is designed for — providing a simple first step for people who are unsure but would like to understand themselves better.
Understanding your brain can change how you approach university.
Find out more about ADHD Direct and our assessment, diagnosis, treatment and support services at www.adhddirect.co.uk.
